I've been trying to find the best approach for this project for a while (if it isn't clear already I am an absolute beginner in regards to Arduino and electronics in general). Basically, I am looking to control a 5m 24V LED strip using an Arduino Uno. I am using this for a work at art school and this sort of thing isn't really my strength however I am trying hard to wrap my head around it.
The end goal is to be able to have the lights turn on and off on a weekly schedule. From what I have been told, Arduino is the best way to go about this. Please let me know if I have been misled in any way.
I went into a store the other day and was told to use a four channel relay. From what I have read however, this approach will not allow me to fade and mix colours.
The other approach I have seen utilises MOSFETs however I am unsure whether this will work in my case as what I have read all relates to 12V strips rather than 24V.
michaeltsandford:
Basically, I am looking to control a 5m 24V LED strip using an Arduino Uno.
...I have seen utilises MOSFETs however I am unsure whether this will work in my case as what I have read all relates to 12V strips rather than 24V.
Link to the strip please. There are many.
RGB, or white only.
Mosfets for LED strips are used a switches.
Strip voltage is not important (within reason).
Strip current is, so again, link to the strip you're using.
Leo..
The only specs I can find for the lights are these:
Super long 5050 RGB LED strip: 5m/reel
LEDs: 300LEDs
Waterproof Rate: IP65 waterproof
View angle: 120 degree
Working Voltage: 24VDC
LED Quantity: 60 leds/1 Meter
Lumen: 20-22LM/LED
Working Tempreture: -20 to 60 degrees
Size: W1.0cm x T0.20cm
Power: 72W
I am new to programming and Arduino in general. The struggle I am having is on the hardware front at the moment however. There seems to be enough information online for me to figure out the coding side.
I have just been thrown of track a little by the recommendation of the 4 channel relay and am unsure whether to return it or not.
That's an RGB strip with current limiting resistors in place, so that makes control very easy: you just need a MOSFET for this. At 3A for the whole strip that's just 1A per MOSFET. There are lots of examples out there on how to control such a strip using three PWM outputs (one for each colour).
You need a logic level MOSFET so it opens well at 5V gate level, such as the IRL540 (and there are many more). Drain to the strip, source to GND (0V), gate with a small resistor (1k or so) to the Arduino. Connect Arduino GND to source as well, and add a pull-down resistor between gate and source (100k is a good value for this). Resistor values are not critical.
Your power supply: you have this specced at the same current your LED strip is going to draw, that's a bad idea as it will run really hot if you use it at the limit. You better spend a little more money and get the 5A version.
